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Monday, July 27, 2015
RESOURCES
CRIME
LNG bill divides local opinions
Murder victim in Panama grew up in Alberni
New bill a ‘betrayal’ of BC’s resources, says MLA, others see benefit ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
While the region’s representative in the provincial legislature is calling a new LNG bill a “betrayal” of B.C.’s resources, those behind a project proposed for the Alberni Inlet observe the act as an encouraging sign. Last week Victoria passed the Liquefied Natural Gas Project Agreements Act after calling a special summer session of the legislature to debate the bill on July 13. The act allows the province to enter into an agreement with Pacific Northwest LNG for the building of a facility near Prince Rupert. The US$36-billion project is being developed by a group of international investors led by Petronas, a state-owned Malaysian company. “Liquefied natural gas represents an extraordinary opportunity for people throughout the province,” said Premier Christy Clark in a media release after the act was passed. “This legislation sets the stage for building a clean, competitive new industry that gives British Columbians a fair share of the benefits – thousands of jobs, new connections for small and medium businesses and revenue to benefit B.C. for years to come.” Alberni-Pacific Rim MLA Scott Fraser, who is a member of the province’s NDP official opposition, voted against the bill. He supports LNG if the industry is developed in a sustainable way, but believes the deal recently passed through the legislature gives too many tax advantages to the Malaysian company while bringing few royalties to the province. These returns are estimated to amount to $8.6 billion by 2030 when the terms of the LNG act expire, stated the provincial government. “We got taken for a ride
Joe Potrebenko shot and killed in home invasion
MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
A Liberian LNG tanker Arrives at a port in Yokohama, Japan. There is currently no liquefied natural gas export from B.C.’s shores, but the provincial government is pushing to change this by fostering the development of projects. Among the list ot proposed plants is a large facility that would be built near the mouth of the Alberni Inlet. [KOJI SASAHARA, AP FILE]
because we had such a bad bargaining position right from the very beginning,” said Fraser, adding that provincial opportunities could be lost to foreign procurement with the current arrangement in place with Pacific NorthWest LNG. “There is no requirement for local hiring, not one British Columbian job.” Job creation is a major reason the Huu-ay-aht First Nations have pursued a large LNG project proposed to be built on their land in Sarita Bay, approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Port Alberni. Through a partnership with Steelhead LNG the proposed development is expected to cost $30 billion, creating 400 permanent jobs over its 25 years of operation. Huu-ay-aht Coun. John Jack does not believe the Prince
Rupert facility would be in competition with the Sarita Bay project, as the plants would attract different international investors. But last week’s bill does set a precedent that the provincial government is committed to developing LNG projects, said Jack. “I see this as the province still backing the idea that Canadian natural gas is still competitive on the globe,” he said. “The fact that they held a special session to move this ahead is more about the needs of the project to move ahead on time to stay competitive in the global industry.” “It’s a very good indication to any LNG proponent that the BC government is doing what it said it would,” added Steelhead CEO Nigel Kuzemko. Currently the Sarita Bay project is in the middle of feasibility studies, including
looking into how the plant and its massive ships would affect the Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound. Kuzemko said the development is obligated under government regulations to explore different forms of cooling systems to determine a sustainable means of condensing natural gas into a liquefied form. “At the moment we’re gathering scientific information required for the environmental assessment process when we start that in the future,” said Kuzemko. Eric.Plummer@avtimes.net 250-723-8171 ext. 226 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@avtimes.net. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
A Port Alberni father is in shock after his son was murdered in Panama a week ago. Joe Potrebenko, 53, was shot and killed in a home invasion on July 18 on his property in Panama, between the town of Boquete and the city of David. Potrebenko grew up in Port Alberni and graduated from Alberni District Secondary School. He moved to Panama about 10 years ago, said his father, Mike. “It’s extreme shock to me,” he said. Police in the Central American country are on the lookout for three armed men who shot Potrebenko as they entered his yurt-style home on the night of July 18. His wife and mother-inlaw were forced to the floor as the culprits searched the house for money and guns. “Joe had no guns at all,” said Mike. “He didn’t believe in them.” Mike said he asked his son if it was safe to live in Panama. “He convinced me there was no problem. He definitely felt safe.” The robbers stole Joe’s pickup truck, which was later found by police.
MUNICIPALITY
Rogers Creek trails get provincial funding ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
Improvements to Port Alberni’s trail system through the Rogers Creek ravine will continue this summer with a $70,000 injection announced by the province last week. Port Alberni is on the list of Vancouver Island communities to benefit from a Bike BC grant, funding set to allow one kilometre of additional three-metrewide paths through the ravine that bisects the city. Other municipalities to benefit from the biking grants include Langford, Saanich, Victoria and the Cowichan Valley Regional District, which, along with the province’s capital, is set to receive $440,000.
WATSON
The Active Transportation Plan, a consultant’s study commissioned by the city last year, indicates that cycling could use some encouragement in Port Alberni, as only one per cent
of residents regularly bicycle to work. The Bike BC grant intends to improve the community’s options for pedal-powered transportation. “Cycling contributes to increased physical activity and helps reduce greenhouse gases,” stated the B.C. Ministry of Transportation on Thursday in its grant announcement. “This year’s projects cover a wide range of work, including bike lanes, multi-use trails and improvements to roads and highways to allow better shared use for cyclists.” In Port Alberni the funding will go towards new trails that add to paths that are already being built this summer behind the
Fall Fair grounds in the Rogers Creek ravine. This is a project the city is sharing with West Coast Aquatic to build a walking bridge across the creek and multi-use trails for pedestrians and cyclists on either side. “We’ll be able to extend it east from where it currently ends through to the SPCA,” said city manager Ken Watson. “At the lower creek level down in the ravine it will go west towards 10th Avenue and include another bridge crossing additional to the one that we’ve already placed.” Watson added that the provincial grant came through at the perfect time, allowing current work on the trail system to continue through the summer.
“The project is under construction now, we’ll just keep on constructing,” he said. “It will be done this year, we’ll continue the project on.” The province’s Ministry of Transportation received eight applications from Vancouver Island municipalities for the Bike BC grants. Six were approved for funding, including two bridges in Victoria. Eric.Plumer@avtimes.net 250-723-8171 ext. 226 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@avtimes.net. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
Inside today Weather 2 What’s On 2
Alberni Region 3 Opinion 4
Sports 5 Scoreboard 6
Comics 7 Classifieds 8
Nation & World 9 Alberni Album 10
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ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 142
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